front spring install question?

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jadigen

Greasemonkey
Jun 6, 2017
138
145
43
S.Jersey
so i've never messed with front springs before.. only torsion bars on my mopars.. i finally decided to put my umi springs in my cutlass and i'm having trouble getting them in properly. seems that stupid rubber thing at the top of the spring is causing the issue.. is that needed? if so what the secret to getting it to stay put? tape it to the spring? i'm assuming its there to stop a squeak or something is that right?


thanks for any help you can give me.
 

Mac442

Master Mechanic
Apr 25, 2020
257
384
63
Ocean County, NJ
Yes, use that rubber insulator. Use tape on the side of it to hold it up there if you have to. Some have a little rubber nipple on them that hold it into place.
 
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Gonzo1970

G-Body Guru
Sep 30, 2018
898
1,302
93
Yep... compress it to get it back in is a pain in the *ss. Luckily mine were... well, stuck up there, so we just left them when we reinstalled the springs. Took a time or two to get the compressing attachments in the proper orientation, but they eventually went in..

Which springs did you go with and what shocks?

I went with a stiffer front spring, which raised it an inch, but I have large 15x10's in the back, so the back was raised an inch by the tires.. this simply levelled it out nicely, and if I put a 400 in it, it will get its 1 inch stance back.. stock springs in the rear, and load-adjusting shocks all the way around (the shocks with the springs around them).

No more nose dive on brake... No more squat on acceleration.. No roll on cornering (Rally Syspenstion option - Thicker Sway Bars front and rear)... Stiff, Firm, yet still comfortable ride.

Perfect, if you ask me.

-Gonz
 
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UNGN

Comic Book Super Hero
Sep 6, 2016
3,048
3,264
113
Southlake, TX
If the motor is in the car, unbolt the LCA at the frame. Attach the shock and the UCA/Spindle to the lca and jack up the LCA to meet the frame.

You may have to raise/lower it a few times to get the jack in the right spot. When the LCA gets close to the frame tap with a rubber mallet and poke with a large screw driver to line up the bolt holes.

With the shock bolted in place, there is zero chance the spring will go anywhere. This is the factory service manual method for spring replacement
 
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jadigen

Greasemonkey
Jun 6, 2017
138
145
43
S.Jersey
Yep... compress it to get it back in is a pain in the *ss. Luckily mine were... well, stuck up there, so we just left them when we reinstalled the springs. Took a time or two to get the compressing attachments in the proper orientation, but they eventually went in..

Which springs did you go with and what shocks?

I went with a stiffer front spring, which raised it an inch, but I have large 15x10's in the back, so the back was raised an inch by the tires.. this simply levelled it out nicely, and if I put a 400 in it, it will get its 1 inch stance back.. stock springs in the rear, and load-adjusting shocks all the way around (the shocks with the springs around them).

No more nose dive on brake... No more squat on acceleration.. No roll on cornering (Rally Syspenstion option - Thicker Sway Bars front and rear)... Stiff, Firm, yet still comfortable ride.

Perfect, if you ask me.

-Gonz


i went from stock 100K mile springs and some cheap shocks with 442 front and rear sway bars to the UMI 2" springs and their shocks... theses springs https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...JvrOXZY3rrCQIVFkKi9hTUqBsomB3198aAo9FEALw_wcB . got a great deal on their shocks right at the beginning of the covid crap. they were getting rid of older inventory and posted them on facebook so i grabbed them at the time.


car is all back together.. didn't get any good pictures because the sky opened up just after the test ride.... looks like it brought the front down an inch and the rear down about 1 3/4".. very happy with the results. sitting where i had it visioned in my head. i wanted lowered but it needed to be nj roads usable lowered if that makes sense.. the ride is firm but in no way harsh. no more bouncing on a dip, stays so flat in corners now too.. its awesome.. can't wait to put some miles on it now...

now i want those just suspension olds wheels..:)

i have a 442 quick ratio steering box i want to put in it too... i'll get to that maybe when it cools down some out there.. way too hot today for this crap..lol
 
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jadigen

Greasemonkey
Jun 6, 2017
138
145
43
S.Jersey
top pictures are before pics.





IMG_20200201_150026.jpg
 

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